The American Ornithological Society is set to rename several bird species in the US and Canada based on their unique traits and habitats.
This move is aimed at breaking ties with human names especially those associated with individuals connected to racist histories.
The goal is to foster a more inclusive environment for bird-watching enthusiasts, and around 70 to 80 birds will be receiving new names.
This decision to replace the human-derived names comes after years of contentious debates.
Some of the birds slated for renaming include Wilson's warbler and Wilson's snipe, which were initially named after the 19th Century naturalist Alexander Wilson.
The ultimate aim is to remove outdated naming conventions influenced by racism and misogyny from the 1800s and shift the focus towards the birds themselves, as stated by Judith Scarl, the CEO of the society.
To facilitate this renaming process, the society will establish a new committee responsible for assigning the new bird names.
This committee will have a diverse representation of individuals with expertise in various fields, such as social sciences, communications, ornithology, and taxonomy.
Inclusivity is a key aspect of this renaming effort with public engagement being actively encouraged.
These decisions represent significant steps towards changing the exclusionary and harmful English bird names that have been in use for many years.
This initiative is part of a larger trend in society to reevaluate names associated with individuals with problematic histories.
Earlier this year, the National Audubon Society, a leading bird conservation organization, decided to retain its name despite past associations with slavery and harmful attitudes held by its namesake, James John Audubon.
